Oil burner



L. O. SELBY July 1, 1941 OIL BURNER Filed March 4, 1939 Patented July. 1, 1941 OIL BURNER Lynn Otis Selby, Cromwell, Coma, usignor to The Sparmal Engineering Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application March 4, 1939; Serial No. 259,878

11 Claims. (01. 158-36) My invention relates to oilburners.

It has among its objects to provide an improved oil burner of the combined distillate and power type. A further object is to provide such an improved burner wherein the distillate burner both preheats thepower burner and maintains the same heated ready for operation in an improved manner, and wherein the power burner, which is turned 'on or off in accordance with heating requirements, is of an improved construction. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved power burner especially adapted to use in connection with such burners and .having any improved vaporizing chamber disposed in an improved location within the distillate burner. Another object is to provide such an improved power burner including improved vapor escape directing means and im: proved flame silencing means for enabling quiet operation of the burner. Still further objects of my invention are to provide such improved vaporizing means requiring only a small amount of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber and subject to the control of a constant level float valve to prevent flooding. These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a combined distillate and power burner equipped with one form of my improvements, as on line I-l of Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2, the shells being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified construction, and

Fig. 5 is a semi-diagrammatic view of a boiler installation including my improvements.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, it will be noted that I have shown a distillate burner, generally indicated at I, and a power burner, generally indicated at 2, disposed coaxially within the distillate burner; power burner being of an improved construction and cooperating in an improved manner with the distillate burner, as hereinafter described.

As shown, the power burner is connected to the burner base 3 of the distillate burner and includes an air pressure supply pipe 4 opening vertically up through the burner base 3 and this threaded to the latter, as at 5, in a suitable bottom boss 6. Coaxial with the pipe 4 and carried on the base 3 and extending upward from the pipe I is a short air inlet member or tube 1, herein integral with the base 3, which cooperates with an adjacent annular wall 8 on the base 3 to provide an annular vaporizing chamber 9 for the power burner. Here it will be observed that this vaporizing chamber 9 is disposed within the vertical limits of the casting comprising the burner base 3, the same herein also having its bottom disposed in the planes of the bottoms of the distillate burner grooves l0 and passages ll. Further, it will be-observed that a usual carbon leg l2, connected to a suitable oil supply, leads angularly through the boss 6 forming a part of the burner base, into the bottom of the vaporizing chambers, this carbon leg supplying liquid fuel to the burner for starting, and functioning to supply vapor to the chamber 9 during operation of the burner in a manner usual to such carbon legs.

Herein also, it will be observed that an annular shoulder I3 is provided on the wall 8 of the base at a point just below the top of the air tube 1, and that a vaporization controlling ring I4 is supported on this shoulder. This ring, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, snugly receives the upper end of the tube 1 and closes the upper end of the chamber 9, save for a series of spaced holes IS in this ring and extending around the latter. It will also be observed that this ring I4 is of such depth as to lie substantially flush with'the top of the tube I. In this construction also, the wall 8 is provided with a reduced extension IS on its upper end adapted to be received within the lower end of a cooperating flame tube I1 extending up through the shells l8 of the distillate burner, herein to a point just above the top of. the latter where an outlet 19 is provided surrounded by an inturned flange 20. Attention further is directed to the fact that a bailie ring 2!, herein imperforate, is disposed within the flame tube I1 and upon the top of the extension IS on the wall 8 adjacent the ring [4; this ring 2| acting to provide an axial aperture 22 of substantially the diameter of the air tube 1. It will be observed that surrounding the base of the wall 8 is the annual vaporizing chamber 23 of the distillate burner, this chamber 23 being covered by a usual cover 24, herein resting on the top or the burner base 3 and an annular flange 25, at the base of the extension I6 on the wall 8; while fuel is supplied to this vaporizing chamber 23 through a usual carbon leg 26 carried by the boss 6 of the base 3.

In the operation of my improved P P tion, it will be understood that the distillate burner is ignited in any usual manner, he f for example, by igniting suitable starting wicks 21, although these are not necessary where speed in starting is not essential. 'When the burner base 3 has been suitably heated by the distillate burner, the liquid fuel supplied thereto through the carbon leg 26 will be vaporized in a usual manner. Thereupon, the distillate burner will thereafter operate entirely upon vapor in a manner characteristic of such burners, and with the incoming liquid fuel vaporizedas it passes through the heated carbon leg 26 and before itreaches the vaporizing chamber 23. As a result of the preheating of the distillate burner, the portion of the base surrounding thevaporizing chamber 9 will be brought to such high temperature as thereby to vaporize the liquidfuel supplied through the power burner carbon leg I 2, in such manner as thereby to prepare the power burner for ignition. When the vapor in the vaporizing chamber 9 passes out through the holes IS in the ring l4 and mixes with the air flowing upward from the pipe 4 through the pipe I, the power burner will be ignited from the flame of the distillate burner which heats the axial portion of the base and the parts carried thereby to a vaporizing temperature; the flame of the power burner extending down to the holes I4 and passing out through the opening 22 in the ring 2| and through the tube I1 and opening l9 in the top thereof, while being constricted by the flange 20. Thereafter, the distillate and power burners will continue to operate together, while the power burner may be turned off whenever desired, the distillate burner maintaining the area of the base 3 adjacent the vaporizing chamber 9 of the power burner at such temperature that the power burner may again be instantly started at any time.

In practice, the carbon leg 26 of the distillate burner, which is herein shown at the front in Figure to facilitate illustration, is connected through a suitable supply line 28 to a usual constant level float chamber 29, the supply of liquid fuel to the distillate burner being controlled by a usual metering valve 30. Further, the carbon leg I2 of the power burner is also connected through a suitable supply pipe 3| to said constant level float chamber 29, this fuel supply also being controlled by a metering valve 32. Also, an air supply pipe 33 is connected to the air pressure supply pipe 4 and to-a suitable blower 34 having the volume of its intake suitably cbntrolled, as by a suitable shutter 35. Thus, obviously, when the constant level float chamber 29 functions in a usual manner, it will be observed that under no conditions can the fuel level in the burner base 3 exceed a shallow predetermined depth, usually of an inch, flooding thereby being prevented in both the distillate burner and the power burner, both of which are under the control of chamber 29.

As a result of my improvements, it is made possible very substantially to reduce the amount of liquid fuel in the vaporizing chamber of the power burner during starting, and, further to dispose all of this vaporizing chamber substantially within the vertical limits of the hot burner base 3, all in such manner as to obtain quicker complete vaporization and consequent quicker quicker starting of the burner in operation. Further, whenever the power burner is shut down, the amount of oil which can thereafter enter the vaporizing chamber 9 is minimized. As a result of the vaporization controlling ring and the constriction provided by this ring and the holes therein, the escaping vapor is directed through the highly heated ring in such manner as to insure complete vaporization of the liquid fuel when it escapes from the vaporizing chamber. Further, improved results as regards mixing with the air stream and in the operation of the burner, are thereby obtained. Attention is also directed to the further improved mixing of the vapor and air obtained through the cooperation of this vaporization controlling ring and with the baffle ring above the same and closely adjacent the latter in this construction. Further, the noise of operation of the power burner is substantially reduced in this construction, wherein the rings are disposed closely together adjacent the outlet of the air tube 1.

In Figure 4 a modified form of vaporization controlling ring is shown, the same herein being illustrated as an imperforate ring 36 seated on a suitable shoulder 31 on the upper end of the tube 1. This ring 36 is smaller than the ring l4 and slightly spaced at its outer periphery from the wall 8. Thus, vapor issuing from the chamber 9 is so directed by it as to be obliged to come into contact with the heated wall 8 of the base 3, in such manner as to insure effective vaporization. In this construction, noise of operation is also minimized.

While I have in this application specifically described two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms have been chosen for purposes of illustration, and that my invention may be modified and embodied in other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an oil burner, a preheating burner of the distillate type having a base, said base being maintained sufliciently hot by said preheating burner so that only vapor enters therein during normal operation, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and disposed axially thereof and said flame passage means extending above said base and surrounded by said preheating burner, and means forming a shallow vaporizing chamber surrounded throughout its depth by said base and maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheated burner and surrounding the top of said air passage means and delivering into said axial flame passage means.

2. In an oil burner, a preheating burner of the distillate type having a base, said base being maintained sufliciently hot by said preheating burner so that only vapor enters therein during normal operation, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and disposed axially thereof and said flame passage means extending above said base and surrounded by said preheating burner, and means forming a shallow vaporizing chamber in said base maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and having its bottom substantially within the vertical limits of the latter and surrounding the upper end of said air passage means and delivering vapor for combustion in said axial flame passage means.

3. In an oil burner, a preheating burner otthe distillate type having a base, said base being maintained sufliciently hot by said preheating burner so that only vapor enters therein during -normal operation, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means. carried thereby and the burner base and axially communicating with said flame passage means, and means forming a shallow vaporizing chamber maintained atvaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and surrounding the top of said air passage means and delivering into said axial flame passage means.

4. In an oil burner, a preheating burner of the distillate type having a base, said base being maintained sufliciently hotby said preheating burner so that only vapor enters therein during normal operation, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and disposed axially thereof, means forming a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and surrounding the top of said air passage means and delivering into said flame passage means. baffle means for effecting further heating of the vapor while it is emerging from said chamber, and battle means in said flame passage means above said last mentioned baflle means for effecting mixing of the vapor and air.

5. In an oil burner, a preheating burner having a base, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and disposed axially thereof, means forming a shallow vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and surrounding the top of said air passage means, and a ring heated by said base forming a' closure for and disposed at the upper end of said chamber and having constricted openings therein for the escape of vapor and heating the vapor estop of said air passage means, and a baflle ring carried on the upper end of said air passage means and of smaller diameter than said chamber.

7. In an oil burner, a preheating burner having a base, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and disposed axially thereof, including an air passage means terminating at its upper end substantially within the vertical limits of said base and a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and surrounding said upper end, and spaced bafile members one disposed over said vaporizing chamber and the other disposed in said flame passage means above the upper end of said air passage means. a

8. In an oil burner, a preheating burner having a base, coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means carried thereby and dis-,

posed axially thereof, including an air passage means terminating at its upper end substantially within the vertical limits of said base and a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and surrounding said upper end, bai'fle means disposed in said flame passage means adjacent and above the upper end of said air passage means and having a passage aligned with said. air passage means, and vapor escape restricting means carried on the upper end of said air passage means and forming a partial closure for said vaporizing chamber.

9. In-combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type having a base, said base being maintained sufllciently hot by said preheating burner so that only vapor enters therein during normal operation, and having coaxial burner grooves and a vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, a power burner preheated by said preheating burner having coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means axially disposed within said grooves and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between the inner groove and said air passage means and having its bottom at substantially the same level as the bottom'oi said first mentioned vaporizing. chamber, and means for insuring against exceeding substantially the same shallow maximum depth of liquid fuel in both chambers.

10. In combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type including a burner base having coaxial burner'grooves and a vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, a power burner preheated by said preheating burner having coaxial pressure air supply and flame passage means axially disposed within said grooves and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature -by said preheating burner and located substantially within the vertical limits of said base and between the inner groove and said air passage means, and means for limiting the fuel supplied to both of said chambers so that the fuel level in both chambers cannot exceed substantially the same maximum.

, 11. In combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type including a burner base having. coaxial burner grooves and a vaporizing cham-' ber communicating with the latter, a power burner surrounded by and preheated by said preheating burner including pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed coaxially with respect to said vaporizing chamber and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and disposed substantially within the vertical limits of said base and surrounding said air supply passage means, and carbon legs connected to said chambers and carried by said base.

12. In combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type including a burner base having coaxial burner grooves and a vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, and a power burner surrounded by and preheated by said preheating burner including pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed coaxially within said grooves and said flame discharge passage means extending upwards above said base and within said preheating burner, said power burner also including a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between the inner groove and said air supply passage means and disposed substantially within the vertical limits of said base.

13. In combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type including a burner base having coaxial burner grooves and a vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, a power burner preheated by said preheating burner including pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed coaxially within said grooves and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between the inner groove and said air supply passage means, and a baflle forming a partial top closure for said last mentioned vaporizing chamber around the upper end of said air passage means.

14. In combination, a preheating burner including a burner base having coaxial burner grooves and a coaxial vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, a power burner preheated by said preheating burner including pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed coaxially within said vaporizing chamber and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between said first mentioned vaporizing chamber and the upper end of said air supply passage means, and a vapor escape restricting ring heated by said base forming a cover for the upper end of said last mentioned vaporizing chamber and having openings therein for the escape of vapor therethrough.

15. In combination, a preheating burner including a burner base having coaxial burnergrooves and a coaxial vaporizing chamber communicating with the latter, a power burner preheated by said preheating burner including pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed coaxially within said vaporizing chamber and having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between said first mentioned vaporizing chamber and the upper end of said air supply passage means, a vapor escape restricting means in the upper end of said last mentioned vaporizing chamber, and cooperating flame bafliing means adjacent said restricting means.

16. In combination, a preheating burner of the distillate type having a shallow grooved burner base carrying concentric spaced upright perforated combustion shells and a coaxial vaporizing chamber communicating with said grooves, a power burner surrounded by and preheated by said preheating burner including coaxial pressure air supply and flame discharge passage means disposed axially within said vaporizing chamber, and said flame discharge passage means extending above said burner base within said shells and also having a vaporizing chamber maintained at vaporizing temperature by said preheating burner and located between said first mentioned vaporizing chamber and the upper end of said air supply passage means, carbon legs connected to both of said vaporizing chambers, and fuel supply means including a constant level float chamber for maintaining a common maximum level and substantially the same depth in said vaporizing chambers when the burner base is cold.

17. In combination, a power burner having axially disposed pressure air supply and flame passage means, a vaporizing chamber surrounding said air supply passage means disposed out of the path of the air in said air passage means and the flame in said flame passage means and discharging unburned vapor into the air stream for burning in said flame passage means, oil supply means connected to said vaporizing chamber including means for maintaininga predetermined shallow maximum depth of oil therein when the burner is cold, and heating means for said vaporizing chamber preheating the latter to vaporize the oil therein and vaporizing additional fuel substantially as fast as the latter is supplied to said chamber during operation oi said burner.

LYNN OTIS SELBY. 

